Wheel spinner



June 5, 1951 L. H. STITES 2,555,769

WHEEL SPINNER Filed Sept. 16, 1949 SUE E 5 59 2a a? 4/ V 1/ 3 i 29 asIEI 2/ 25 9 27 /7 25 24 A? HQ 3/ 35 m INVENTOR. LOREZY ILSTITE'SPatented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL SPINNER Loren H.Stites, Flint, Mich.

Application September 16, 1949, Serial No. 116,107

9 Claims.

My invention pertains to means for more conveniently turning wheelswhich are manually operated and more particularly to steering wheelspinners for installation and use on the steering wheels of automotivevehicles.

Such devices are well known, but prior known wheel spinners have beendifficult to install, or have not been rigid and strong when installed,or have had a tendency to work loose with use. Also previously knownsteering wheel spinners have not been universally installable on all thedifferent steering wheels in regular use on automotive vehicles. Afurther trouble with other previously known wheel spinners has been thatthe shape has been such as to catch upon the operators clothing, andmany have been of complicated constructions involving the use of manyparts and not feasible to manufacture and supply the market demand forsuch a useful device.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a wheel spinnerwhich can be conveniently and quickly installed upon the rims of thevarious different steering wheels in common use on automotive vehicles.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such a wheel spinnerwhich will remain rigidly mounted upon the rim of a steering wheelduring use thereon.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a wheel spinner of asimple construction requiring only a few parts which can be economicallymanufactured, and of a smooth symmetrical shape to avoid interferencewith the operator.

The invention will be more readily understood and additional objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent by reading the followingspecification in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view showing the improved wheel spinner installed upona steering wheel which is broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing modi fied construction; and

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view showing still another constructionwhich may be utilized in the improved wheel spinner.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I haveillustratively disclosed an embodiment of my invention comprising ahandle ll presenting a smooth symmetrical external conformation, asshown, which will not of the wheel.

have a tendency to catch into an operators clothing when it is actuatedto turn the rim l3 which may be part of a steering wheel (not shown)whereupon it is mounted. The lower end of this handle I l is of a smalldiameter, comparable with the diameter of the rim of the wheel, and ittapers to a larger upper end to facilitate firm manual gripping thereon.

For mounting the handle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a clamp band isprovided, and this clamp band I5 is passed under and around the rim [3The ends of this clamp band l5 are brought up over the top of the rim lain an overlapping relation but these are bent up to be spaced slightlyabove the wheel rim so that a threaded nut IT can be inserted on top ofthe rim and under these ends of the clamp band. These overlapping bandends have apertures I9 in an aligned relation so that a verticallydisposed threaded stud 2| may be passed therethrough and turned into thenut ll. Screwing the stud 2! firmly down into this nut lifts the nut anddraws the clamp band up around the wheel rim l3 in a snug clampingrelation. To facilitate this operation the upper end of the stud may beconformed for receiving a wrench. as by having a square head '23thereon.

For rotatively supporting the handle II, a tubular bearing member 25 isprovided which is mounted down concentrically around the stud, its lowerend being conformed to fit snugly upon the steering wheel rim 13 at bothsides of the clamp band. The upper portion of this bearing tube 25 isturned to a smaller outside diameter leaving a larger annular shoulder21 on the lower end. The handle I I has an aperture 29 extending axiallytherethrough for fitting rotatively down over the bearing tube with itslower end resting upon the shoulder 2! thereof, which receives thedownward axial thrust of the handle. From a point just under the upperend of the tubular bearing 25, the upper portion of this aperture 29,

of circular cross-section, is of a larger internal diameter so that athrust washer 3 I of larger diameter than the bearing tube 25, may beinserted down concentrically around the stud and resting upon the upperend of bearing tube. A nut 33, which is threadably disposed upon thestud, is then turned down thereon and presses firmly upon the upper endof the tubular bearin 25 which is thereby firmly and rigidly mounted andheld upon the steering wheel rim; The thrust washer 3|, being of alarger diameter than the bearing tube 25, projects laterally and engagesupon the annular shoulder 35 formed in the handle at the juncture of thelarger upper portion of the aperture with the smaller lower portion, sothat the rotative handle I I is held upon the bearing tube and cannot belifted ofi.

As Fig. 3 also shows, the top of the handle H may be provided with adiverging conical area Bl openingupwardlyaround the upper end of theaxial aperture 29 in the handle. A closure cap 39 is provided which isconformed to fit snugly and smoothly-over. the. open top of thehandle.This. cap 39 is'of'such a shape that it fits into the diverging conicalarea 31 in said handle and it also has a tubular mounting extension orneck 4| which fits snugly down into the upper end oithe. centralaperture in the handle where it serves to hold the cap on the handle,until it is priedi'off by means of a screw driver or. othersuitabletool.

or instrument. The extension ll'is hollow so it' fits concentricallyaround the upper endzof the stud.

AssFigA: shows,-. theeupper end of. the central aperture 29.- -intherhandle H maybe internally threaded tareceive a covercap 43. havinganeck 45;.whichis externally threaded to screw down intoethe'handle.This. cap-is preferablyprovided with.-a.pair.of spacedrecesses: 41 sothat itcan be installed or removed by suitable wrench. means,-.

such as a spanner wrench.

Fig;-5 showssan arrangement wherein the uppen-end .ofsthe handleI-Iissquaredoff to provide azfiataannularsurface 49-around-the upper end ofitheaxialaperture 2.9 inthe handles A cover plate-51 .is. providedhaving, down-turned edges 53.:adapted-.tosfit-. smoothly upon: andaround :the

A uppenedges .ofthis-handle; and having an. extension-onneOk4-l'fitti-ngsnugly down into the'upper endofethecentral aperture ofthehandle to holditethereons. As. shown, the, outer surface of the largeupper end of this handle may be made of a.- conical shape. The upperendzofthe-threaded stud 2,l-.may be provided with arecess suitable-forreceiving an.-Allen wrench to facilitatecinstallas tion. Suchra-wrenchreceiving-socket is;repre-- sented.-in dotted..lmes at 2-2 .in Figs; 4-.and 5, and.

may; also be: utilized. in the modification shown suclLmaterialshave-aimore pleasing feelatozthe tOuolrthan. metals and: are availablein awide. varie'tyg of. pleasing colors-and shades. It. will .be seenthat a.-whee1.-- spinner has been provided; whiehiis simpleto.-manufacture and easy to::in.-- stall uponthe rims. ofr the varioussteering wheels: otlautomotive vehicles and which -.-is of. arshapeproviding a knob.- effect so that the operators handIwillnot-slip 011Also the design is such" as,

toprovidea smallrbot-tom connection .on-the steering wheel'rimwith -noprojections or obstacles to interfere with the operators fingers,knuckles-or clothing,.and.hav-ing noexposed screws or bolts inisighttotempt. theft or: the accessory;

Itislapparentthat within the scope :of' the ins ventionmodificationsanddifferent arrangements may-be. madeother: than herein disclosed, andthepresentdisclosure is. illustrative merely, the in"-.

ventiOncompreliending variations thereofl The;

What I claim is:

1. A steering wheel spinner comprising, a handle of a smooth symmetricalconformation with a small attachment end tapering to a larger upper endfor firm manual gripping and having an aperture of circularcross-section extending axially therethrough, the upper end of saidaperture being of a larger diameter for providing an intermediateshoulder in said aperture, a clamp bands for passing, under and around asteering wheelrim and having apertured ends overlap ping in alignedrelation spaced above the rim, a threaded nut disposed under theoverlapped ends ofssaidrclamp band in alignment with the aperturestherein, a threaded stud disposed threadaki 'l yin said nut and risingvertically through the aligned. apertures in. the ends of said band sothat by screwing the stud down the lower end of thestudiresting upon therim lifts the nut to draw the clamp band up around said rim in a snugclamping. relation, a tubular bearing disposed concentrically: aroundsaidstud and adapted on the. lowerv endtfor snugly fitting upon asteering wheelrrim-at. both sides of said clamp band, the

upper portion ofsaid tubular bearing being turned down toa smalleroutside diameter for rotatively;receiving said handle and .forprovidingashoulderfor receiving the downward axial thrust-from: the lower end ofthe handle, the

axial length ofasaid'upper portion of the tubular bearing; being:slightly greater than the length of theslower. small diameter portion ofthe aperture in -said handle; a=thrust washer disposed concentrioallyraround said stud and" resting upon the upnera'end: of said: tubularbearing, and a nut threadablyj disposed upon said stud for pressingsaidsthrustwasher down to rest firmly upon the upper endofsaidtubular-bearing to hold firmly mounted? upon said steering wheelrim, and at the samezti-me the periphery of said thrust washer being;disposed? loosely over said intermediate shoulder rin:said"handle-' toretain the handle rotati-velyrthereon'.

2. A steering wheel spinner in accordance-with claiincl. and: furthercharacterized by having a clo'snre'icapifitting snugly and smoothly overthe openrtoplofisaid handle, .and saidclosurecap hav'- ing a tubularmounting extension fitting. snugly down-intoztheupper endiof the:aperture in said handlecirr concentricrelationaround the upper end-10f;said: studforsecuring. the closure cap on saidhandle.

3:. A steering wheel spinner comprising, a handle of a smoothsymmetrical conformation with a smalliiatt'achmentiend tapering to alarger upper endzforifirmmanual gripping and having an apert'urez'oficircnlari' cross-section extending axially tlierethrough; the upper endof said aperture b ing of a larger diameter for providing anintermediatetshoulder. in said. apertura-a clamp'band 'for passing underand around a steering wheel rim and having apertured ends overlapping inaligned relationzspaced above the rim, a threaded nut disposedlunder theoverlappedends of said clamp band in alignment with the aperturestherein, a threaded stud disposed threadably in said nut and risingvertically through the aligned apertures in theendsofsaidiband so thatby screwing the stud downthe lower end of the stud resting upon the rimlifts the nut to draw the clamp band up around said rim in a snugclamping relation, a tubularrbearing disposed concentrically aroundsaidistudiandradapted.on the lower end for snug- Iyfittingiuponiasteering wheel rim at both sides of saidiclampb'and, the upper portionof said tubular bearing being turned down to a smaller outside diameterfor rotatively receiving said handle and for providing a shoulder forreceiving the downward axial thrust from the lower end of the handle,the axial length of said upper portion of the tubular bearing beingslightly greater than the length of the lower smaller diameter portionof the aperture in said handle, a thrust washer disposed concentricallyaround said stud and resting upon the upper end of said tubular bearing,a nut threadably disposed upon said stud for pressing said thrust washerdown to rest firmly upon the upper end of said tubular bearing to holdit firmly mounted upon said steering wheel rim, and at the same time theperiphery of said thrust washer being dis-posed loosely over saidintermediate shoulder in said handle to retain the handle rotativelythereon, said tubular mounting extension of the closure cap beingexternally threaded to screw into internal threads provided in the upperportion of said aperture in the handle, and said closure cap beingconformed for receiving a tool or wrench for installin or removing thecap.

l. A steering wheel spinner in accordance with claim 3 and the top ofsaid handle having a diverging conical area opening upwardly around theupper end of said aperture, and said closure cap being suitablyconformed for fitting down into said conically diverging area on saidhandle.

5. A steering wheel spinner comprising, a handle of a smooth symmetricalconformation with a small attachment end tapering to a larger end forfirm manual gripping and having an aperture of circular cross-sectionextending axially therethrough, the upper portion of said aperture inthe handle being of a larger diameter and the handle having a fiat uppersurface, a clamp band for passing under and around a steering wheel rimand having apertured ends disposable in an overlapping aligned relationspaced above the rim, a threaded nut disposed under the overlapped endsof said clamp band in alignment with the apertures therein, a threadedstud disposed threadably in said nut and rising vertically through thealigned apertures in the ends of said band so that by screwing the studdown the lower end of the stud resting upon the rim lifts the nut todraw the clamp band up around said rim in a snug clamping relation, atubular bearing disposed concentrically around said stud and adapted onthe lower end for snugly fitting upon a steering wheel rim at both sidesof said clamp band, the upper portion of said tubular bearing beingturned down to a smaller outside diameter for rotatively bearing in thesmaller lower portion of the aperture in said handle and for providing ashoulder for receiving the downward axial thrust of the handle, theaxial length of said tubular bearing being slightly greater than thelength of the smaller lower portion of the aperture in said handle, athrust washer disposed concentrically around said stud in the largerportion of said aperture in the handle and resting upon the upper end ofsaid tubular bearing, and a nut threadably disposed upon said stud forpressing firmly down upon said thrust washer to hold said tubularbearing firmly mounted upon said steering wheel rim.

6. A steering wheel spinner in accordance with claim 5 and furthercharacterized by having a closure cap fitting snugly and smoothly overthe fiat upper surface of said handle, and said closure cap having atubular mounting extension fitting snugly down into the upper end of theaperture in said handle in concentric relation around the upper end ofsaid stud for securing the closure cap on said handle.

'7. A wheel spinner comprising, a handle having a central apertureextending therethrough with the lower portion of the aperture being of asmaller diameter and providing an intermediate shoulder in the aperture,a clamp band for passing under and around a Wheel rim and havingapertured ends disposable in an overlapping aligned relation spacedabove the rim, a threaded nut under the overlapped ends of said clampband in alignment with the apertures therein, a threaded stud disposedthreadably in said nut and rising through the aligned apertures in theends of said band so that by screwing the stud down the lower end of thestud resting upon the rim lifts the nut to draw the clamp band up aroundsaid rim in a snug clamping relation, a tubular bearing disposedconcentrically around said stud and adapted on the lower end for snuglyfittin upon a wheel rim at both sides of said clamp band, the upperportion of said tubular bearing being turned down to a smaller outsidediameter for a pivot bearing in the smaller lower portion of theaperture in said handle and for providing a shoulder for receiving thedownward axial thrust of the lower end of said handle, the axial lengthof said tubular bearing being slightly greater than the length of thesmaller lower portion of the aperture in said handle, a thrust washerdisposed concentrically around said stud in the larger portion of saidaperture in the handle and resting upon the upper end of said tubularbearing, a nut threadably disposed upon said stud for pressing firmlydown upon said thrust washer to hold said tubular bearing firmly mountedupon said wheel rim, and said thrust washer being of a greater diameterthan the upper end of said bearing tube for overhanging the shoulderformed in the handle at the juncture of the larger portion of saidhandle aperture with the smaller lower portion thereof so that thethrust washer also serves to hold the handle for free rotation upon saidtubular bearing.

8. A steering wheel spinner in accordance with claim 7 and the top ofsaid handle having a diverging conical area opening upwardly around theupper end of said aperture, and said closure cap being suitablyconformed for fitting down into said conically diverging area on saidhandle.

9. A steering wheel spinner in accordance with claim 8 and furthercharacterized by said tubular mounting extension of the closure cap beinexternally threaded to screw into internal threads provided in the upperportion of said aperture in the handle, and said closure cap beingformed for receiving a tool or wrench for installing or removing thecap.

LOREN H. STITES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,784,230 Freeman Dec. 9, 19302,118,540 Van Arsdel May 24, 1938 2,267,308 Russel et a1 Dec. 23, 19412,432,262 Thorp Dec. 9,. 1947

